family
A little journey
For the first time in around 20 years I managed to get over to the Netherlands to see my son. This became quite a trip! The plane journey became more of a trip through a maze courtesy of customs etc. at Manchester airport, then having to wait for a coach rather than a plane connection to get to Eindhoven from Schiphol. But arriving was glorious, that meeting at the airport, smiles and more then a gentle unpack in Rosmalen. After that we had the joy of Carnival – Den Bosch turned into Eiteldonk – don’t ask, it’s bonkers.
on another day we took a trip to Kinderdijk to see some old windmills out in the wild. these are great, old structures still used to pump water from one source to another level helping the local land, the farmers and general water supply, of course also stopping flooding and so on. We have all had too much experience of flooding recently – check UK news over recent months. As I have joked with my kids these windmills didn’t seem to run around much even though they are surrounded by fields. This is one of the reasons I am known as naughty, bonkers grandad. From there we took a trip further up the road to Rotterdam and had the joys of a drink with others in a local boozer called Locus Publicus and then went on to have a meal at a large fusion restaurant. Each was quite an experience.
Another day on and after a bit of a chat in which I mentioned that I tended to have a greater liking for places with a bit of age it was suggested that we have a run out to a place called Oud Housden. There we were treated to many of the sights above and below. it was a gentle but nice walk through the town and on to a cafe and bakery where we enjoyed nice local snacks – savoury and sweet. Then we had a further walk to see more of the watery sights.
This was a glorious journey for me – seeing my son and his partner, enjoying sights not seen before, having that delight of my eyes being greeted by something different each and every day, eating nicely … There is nothing like real experience, having your eyes, ears and taste greeted by something of difference. New experience, even what can be said to be ordinary, is a real joy. As was said then one thing I have little time for is the ‘Disneyland’ style of experience – all glitter, whoops and wows, noise and queues, carnival fair rides and the like. My taste is for real life and what it can bring, the difference of a real, living place or places, where there is a different texture to the life lived each and every day. This is experience!
International Women’s Day Event 8th March
Sunday 8th March 10:00-12:00
 £12 Concessions availableÂ
The Light Room
Hagglers Corner
Sheffield
The joys of …
13th June my birthday and my daughter’s birthday 17th. Soppy dad time I guess … yes, I love all of my kids and have such a collection of family and friends – I am truly blessed. Part of what I like to do is to create for them …
There is an aesthetic moment to be found almost everywhere and almost at any time – all it takes is a little imagination.
There is a world of intriguing joy to be found, sometimes at your fingertips, sometimes in imagination, and yes, sometimes distantly exotic …
My 100th upload
I love my family
A trip back home – Coventry
Coventry is quite a city. It is my home town, I now live in Sheffield and have been based there for many, many years. It was good to see the place again. It is certainly a city of contrasts – contrasts that are still present. In recent history renowned for its engineering, car production and at times really high tech indutrial foundation – it has a very long history indeed. I had travelled down for a family event – the day after we had a chance to have a little look around. The history is there in front of you. There is the modern cathedral, of course, a place most have heard of – the past sits resolutely at its side.
The Golden Cross was a pub that had real meaning for me. I met so many people there and made friends. It was in this pub I made friends with a certain John Bradbury, ten years or so later to become the drummer of the Specials and also to be there at the beginning of the Selecter. I must admit I failed in my vocal and saxophonic renditions for him and so the friendship was short but still memorable for me. I have retained a huge love of ska and 2 tone.
colours heard 